My wife teaches flute and piano, and one of the things she’s really good at, is picking the right music for the right students.

She teaches students of all levels, ages, and experience. The trick is not to make it too easy on them because if it’s too easy they won’t learn anything. But if the music is too challenging, they get frustrated and may even give up.

Most students don’t know what they don’t know, and yet there is always one who thinks s/he knows better. They will tell their teacher what piece of music they want to practice next. It’s usually a popular composition that’s way beyond what they are capable of.

There was even one student who, after having had lessons for ONE year, asked my wife how soon she could start teaching piano herself! Another one wanted to stage a public performance after only a few months of lessons.

Crazy, right?

THE BIG LEAGUES

As a Voice over coach, all of this is no news to me. I’m sure you’ve seen people on social media who want to play in the big leagues but have no money to invest, no professional equipment/studio, and very little training or experience.

They sign up for an online casting site, and after a week of membership they complain that they haven’t booked a single job. How unfair is that?

Talent shows like the X-Factor and The Voice give impressionable people the idea that you need very little training or experience to break into the world of entertainment. And make lots of money!

Here’s what I know.

There is no microwave recipe for success. To be successful you need a slow cooker, lots of practice, and patience. It also doesn’t come cheap.

Once you’ve decided to join the ranks of voice over professionals, don’t think that things will get easier. Amateurs have nothing to prove, but pros do.

NOT BOOKING AFTER TWO YEARS

Here’s a question I found on Facebook:

“I’ve been told that I’m on the right track and I can succeed in the voice over industry, but as many times as I send out emails, make connections on LinkedIn, audition and get feedback, I can’t dig myself out of whatever hole I must be in. I just don’t book. After more than two years, am I just not meant to be doing this?”

One of the responses was this:

“I’ve been trudging along since 2012 and am still trying to crack the code.”

What’s my take on that, you wonder? Well, I’m going to give you my opinion on these comments and by doing so I’ll run the risk of doing what I accuse others of: passing judgment without knowing anything about the people involved.

In a nutshell, the second person has been in business too long, and the first one not long enough.

CHANGE CAREERS?

If you’ve been running your store for ten years and you’re still “trudging,” I think you might be in the wrong Business. Listen, if you’re independently wealthy you can do whatever you want, of course, but what’s the point? Why not take a good look in the mirror and say: “What I’ve been doing isn’t working. It may be time to find something else.”

And by the way, there is no secret “code.” Coaches may try to sell it to you, but the Golden Key on the Silver Platter does not exist.

Now, any Chamber of Commerce can tell you that it takes at least three years to see if a business has enough potential to eventually become profitable. THREE years! Ask any voice talent how much they made in their first year. I mean net income, not gross. I can guarantee you that very few people turned a profit. I certainly didn’t.

I know a lot of voice over people, and many of them are still struggling to make ends meet, even after being in business for many years. They won’t tell you because nobody wants to look like a loser.

NUMBERS SPEAK VOLUMES

You don’t have to believe me. Just go to voiceoversurvey.com or watch the short video below. Bottom line: 75% of voice actors earn LESS than 40 thousand dollars per year.  About 48% of those surveyed made less than 8 thousand dollars from VO in 2020. Only 5.6% reported earning more than 150 thousand dollars that year. This is not something the Pay-to-Play marketing managers will tell you, is it?

So, if you’re wondering why you’re not booking after only two years, perhaps your expectations aren’t very realistic.

It doesn’t mean that success will never happen. Many of Hollywood’s greatest were ready to give up when they got their big break.

Success may only be one job away, and you don’t even know it!

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